PAN AMERICAN GAMES; A Hemisphere's Worth of Competitors Will Gather This Week in Havana

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ARCHERY: The United States is sending its best team to Cuba and is favored to win the competition. Jay Barrs, who won the men's event in 1987, and Denise Parker, the defending women's champion, are favored.

ATHELTICS: With the track and field world championships scheduled for late August in Tokyo, many of the United States' premier performers are skipping the Pan Am Games. Hollis Conway, the 1991 outdoor high jump champion and Andre Cason, the 1991 100-meters indoor champion, will attend. Schowonda Williams, one of the United States' best hurdlers, is favored to win the event in Cuba.

BASEBALL: The United States must finsih in the top four to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Cuba is the favorite. Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Canada will compete with the United States for the remaining spots in one of the stiffest competitions of the games.

BASKETABALL: The United States men's team was upset by Brazil in the 1987 gold medal game. With players like Grant Hill and Christian Laettner of Duke and Jimmy Jackson of Ohio State as the anchors, the United States team seems loaded - but who can tell? The women's team, with veteran players like Teresa Edwards, Katrina McClain and Jennifer Azzi, could be awesome.

BOXING: The Cuba-United States boxing competion has become one of the most anticipated rivalries in amateur boxing. This will be a good match but the Cubans should dominate since the top United States boxers are passing to prepare for the world championships.

CANOE/KAYAK: Although the best performers will not be here in order to prepare for the world championships on Aug. 21, the United States is sending a representative team. Mike Herbert a member of the 1988 Olympic team, and Chris Barlow anchor the team. The Cubans are expected to do well in the team boat competition. Canada will provide stiff competition in the kayak events.

CYCLING: Familiar faces like Lance Armstrong and Inga Thompson will be missing, but the United States is sending enough good cyclists to edge Canada in the track events. South American teams dominate road competition and this year Colombia is expected to field the best team. The U.S. has never won a road race in Pan Am competition.

DIVING: The Pan American Games are the most important event of the summer for divers, and the United States will send its top men and most of its top women. Mark Bradshaw, Kent Ferguson, Mark Lenzi and Matt Scoggin will represent the men; Karen LaFace, Mary Ellen Clark and Alison Malsch are the top female divers. Mexico and Canada will provide stiff competition.

FENCING: This is an important tuneup competition for fencers and the United States is responding by sending top performers like Peter Westbrook, a silver medalist in sabre competition during the 1987 Pan Am Games. Cuba is a rising power in fencing and along with Canada will push the United States men and women.

FIELD HOCKEY: The United States must win a gold to guarantee itself a berth in Barcelona next summer. Canada, the defending Pan Am champion, and Argentina, which won the silver medal in 1987, will be the United States' chief rivals.

GYMNASTICS: The top men and women performers will skip the Pan Am Games to prepare for the world champioships on Sept. 6. But, the United States is sending its best junior rhythmic gymnasts in Naomi Newitt-Couturier and Diane Simpson. Canada and a rapidly improving Cuban team will provide stiff team competition.

JUDO: Eddie Liddie, a national champion in 1990 and 1991 leads a strong United States team. This is a major warmup competition for the favored United States team.

ROLLER SKATING: Look for the United States to excel in speed skating with Dante Muse and Tony Muse - ranked first and second in the world - leading the charge. Argentina is the favorite to take the gold in hockey. SHOOTING: This is the last major international competition for shooters before the Olympics and the United States is sending its best team. The chief competition will come from Canada.

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SOCCER: The United States is sending a strong junior team to compete in an extremely competitive field. Brazil is the defending champion, but Argentina and Cuba will challenge.

SOFTBALL: The United States women's team, the defending champion, is loaded with talent and some feel this squad could be the best team the United States has ever fielded. Their competition will come from Canada and Puerto Rico. The men's team is strong but will need an inspired tournament to defeat the powerful Canadian team.

SWIMMING: While the top elite swimmers are preparing for the Pan Pacific championships, a contingent of strong, young swimmers will represent the United States in Cuba and are expected to do extremely well.

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING: The United States is sending its second team to Havana while the A team prepares for the Pan Pacific championships. Canada will be the chief competitor.

TABLE TENNIS: Look for a strong performance from a heavily favored United States team, led by Sean O'Neil and Jim Butler.

TAEKWONDO: With most of its competition in Asia and Europe, a strong United States team is expected to win this competition. Look for impressive performances by Juan Moreno and Sam Pejo.

TEAM HANDBALL: It's this simple: the United States men's team must win the gold medal to qualify for Barcelona. Cuba will pose the stiffest competition.

VOLLEYBALL: The United States' best college players will compete in Cuba while the national team prepares for the world championships. Cuba is extremely strong in men and women's competition.

WATER POLO: A veteran United States team is coming off a strong performance at the world championships but will be given all it can handle by the Cubans.

WEIGHT LIFTING: The Cubans take great pride in their weight lifting and have already predicted that they will win more medals here than in any other competition. The United States may surprise them, especially in the 60-kilo category with Bryan Jacob and Thanh Nguyen.

WRESTLING: This will be another tough competition for the United States and a tuneup for the world championships. The U.S. is favored to win the free-style competition, although Cuba, with three reigning world champions, is the defending Pan American champion. Bruce Baumgartner, Kenny Monday and John Smith are the leading U.S. free-style wrestlers. The toughest competition for the United States will be in Greco-Roman, which the Cubans dominate.

YACHTING: Nearly 30 years have passed since United States sailors have had the opportunity to sail in the Gulf Stream off Havana. Beginning on Aug. 7, 17 United States athletes will compete in six sailing events at the Hemingway Marina. Canada and Brazil will be the United States' primary competition.

A version of this list appears in print on July 29, 1991, on Page C00006 of the National edition with the headline: PAN AMERICAN GAMES; A Hemisphere's Worth of Competitors Will Gather This Week in Havana. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe